Home Companion Animals 15 Most Popular Race Horse Breeds You Must Know As A Horse...


Horseback Racing is one of the ancient entertainment for the human being that remain to exist as the same spirit in modern civilization. The people are using horses as a matter of honor, pride, strength, courage, and speed. All these qualities and characteristics can be demonstrated by riding a horse and found in more advanced Race Horse Breeds.

Horse racing is one of the oldest sports that vary in format from country to country, but the basic requirements are the same. Horse racing is the competition between two or more horses where the involvement of money and ane party benefited by the sports. In the modern era, horse racing developed from a diversion of the leisure class into a huge public-entertainment business.

Most Popular Race Horse Breeds

There are various Horse Breeds and pony in the world, but all are not used as the racehorse. Racing horses require some special characteristics and features. Moreover, the most important thing is the breeding history of that individual horse. A well-recorded data regarding sire( Father) and dam( mother) performance in racing and breeding history should be maintained and well known to you. You may study the pedigree books or stud books to know the detail pieces of information. Previous records and physical performance may help you to choose the best horses for racing.  

Recommended Read:https://www.thevetexpert.com/horse-behavior-understanding-your-horse-mind-and-physical-condition/

1. Race Horse Breeds: Arabian

Arabian Horse is the most popular Race Horse breeds of the world having high intelligence, stamina, spirit, trainability, beauty, and gentle disposition. The Arabian horses originated in the Arabian Peninsula and spread throughout the world through trade and war. Arabian horses are the most popular racing horse nowadays.


Arabian horses are the small compact horse with a small head, broad forehead, large nostrils, deep chest, well muscular body, short back, and straight tail. The average body weight ranges from 350 to 600 kgs and height from 14.1 to 15.1 hand (57 to 61 inches). It is the oldest horse breeds of the world, and all other breeds of horses found an Arabian bloodline.

The color of Arabian horses vary from a bay, gray, chestnut, black and roan, sabino color never found in Arabian horses. The Arabian horse is the most popular breed horse that widely used in racing, showing purpose, equestrian sports, movies, parade, circus and other places. In a racing Arabian horse is unparalleled to other breeds.

2. Race Horse Breeds: Thoroughbred

The most prominent racehorse in the world is Thoroughbred that originated in England during the 17th century by breeding a native mare with Arabian, Barb and Turkman stallion. Many of us take doubt that any pure breed horse is thoroughbred, but originally it is a distinct breed of horses.

They are bigger than their oriental forebears, long legs, muscular and robust body, short back, deep chest, broad head, and larger nostrils. The height of horses varies from 61 to 67 inches( 15.1 to 16.7 hand) and body weight from 1000 to 1400 lbs. They are most often bay, dark bay or brown, chestnut, black, or gray color and less common colors recognized in the United States include roan and palomino.


Whiteis very rare, but is a recognized color separate from gray. There may be a presence of white markings in the face, head, legs, and body.  Thoroughbred is widely used in racing, and it is the most popular racing horse breed. Other uses of Thoroughbred are eventing, show jumping, dressage, Olympic games, show hunters, western riding, equestrian sports and many more.

3. Race Horse Breeds: Quarter Horse

The Quarter horse of American Quarter horse is one of the oldest recognized horse breeds of America named after sprinting short racing a quarter-mile. It is the most popular breed of horses in America and can run up to 88 km per hour. The characteristics of the quarter horse are healthy well-muscled body, small, short and refined head, broad chest and powerful and rounded hindquarters.


The average height is usually 56 to 64 inches. The most common color of quarter breed horse is chestnut, grey, bay, palomino, brown and black. Quarter horses are popularly used for racing. Other uses of this breed are show jumping, western riding like calf hunting, trail riding, and competition mounted police and horse polo. The quarter horse is one of the popular racehorse breeds of the world.

4. Race Horse Breeds: Standardbred

Standardbred horses are the world’s most popular harness racing and fasted trotting horse breed. The alternate name of the breed is Trotter Pacer which is originated in the United States of America. The horses having a well-developed body structure. In addition to harness racing, the standardbred is used for a variety of equestrian qualities- including horse show and pleasure riding particularly in mid-western and eastern United States and southern Ontario.


The Standardbred typically weighs between 800 to 1000 lbs and the wide range of height from 56 to 68 inches.  They are most often bay, brown and black, although other colors such as chestnut, grey, and roan are also seen. They have characteristics long body, well-muscled, solid legs, powerful shoulder and hindquarters in some cases heavier than the thoroughbred.

In horse racing, standardbred can trot or pace as speedy as racing. The special characteristics are they are disciplined at hunting, quite at jumping and able to use in show jumping, show eventing and eventing. They are excellent in trail racing and ranching, excellent temperament and good behavior.

5. Race Horse Breeds: Paint Horse

The paint horse is the very popular breed of horses that originated in the United States of America. The American paint horse is highly popular and known for their marking and excellent color, intelligence, and unique refinement makes most favorite. The Paint horse is used in performance competitions as a show horse and dressage training.


The color is bay, chestnut, black, palomino, gray, buckskin, and blue roan. But more importantly, their physical coloring is their distinctive white marking. The two dominant coat pattern of Paint horse, the overo, and tobiano, are distinguished by the position of the white coloring on the body.

6. Race Horse Breeds: Appaloosa

Appaloosa is a spotted colored popular horse breed of America. They are medium-sized breed height ranges from 57 to 61 inches and weight from 450 to 500 kg. They may be of different color but with distinct spotted markings on the body. They are highly trained in English riding and Western riding.

Appaloosa is well familiar for western competition( reining, cutting, roping), O-Mok-See sports (Barrel racing and pole bending) and English disciplines (eventing, fox hunting and show jumping)


7. Race Horse Breeds: Andalusian

Andalusian is a pure Spanish Horse originated in the Iberian Peninsula where its ancestors lived for thousands of years.  They are a very strong horse due to their well developed muscular structure, deep chest and well-developed nostril. The average height ranges from 61 to 65 inches and body weight from 450 t0 500 kg which is a well known medium horse.

Andalusian is intelligent, docile and calm horses that’s why widely used in school riding. They are excellent western event horses, cattle events and working ranch horses and all English events( hunter, pleasure, and dressage).


Due to easy trainability, athletism and recent performance in Olympic, Andalusian is the original dressage horse. You may bet in a racehorse for Andalusian very confidently and without any doubt.

8. Race Horse Breeds: American Miniature Horse

American Miniature Horses are very well known horses found in Europe and America which named due to their sizes. The average height from 36 to 39 inches with various colors and coat patterns. American Miniature horse has very lengthy and angled shoulders,  long and flexible neck, well-formed forearms, wide-set eyes, large nostrils, pointed ears, and a well muscular developed body.

American Miniature Horse

The American Miniature is gentle and friendly, curious and playful horses so you can keep it as a pet for children. They are widely used in horse show including halter, in-hand hunter and jumper, driving, liberty, costume, obstacle or trial classes, and showmanship.

9. Race Horse Breeds: Akhal Teke

Akhal Teke is the reputed horse breed for intelligence, endurance and metallic sheen which originated in Turkmenistan where they are the national emblem.  They are also known as “Golden Horses” due to a shiny coat of palominos and buckskin. Akhal Teke is medium horses range from 58 to 63 inches and well known for a golden color. They are characterized by the straight head, almond-shaped or “hooded eyes,” well muscular body and glossy skin.


Akhal Teke horse is a very confident and quick learner. They are gentle, developed strong bondage with the rider, very sensitive and that’s how to make them “one rider horse”.  Akhal Teke is a generally well-known riding horse and frequently used in racing horses. Akhal Teke horses used around the world have performed well dressage, showjumping, eventing and the famous racehorse in Russia and Turkmenistan.

10. Race Horse Breeds: Black Forest Horse

Black Forest horses also known as Black Forest Cold Blooded horse originated in Southern Germany. They are bred for working in the farmland and forest as they are small and sturdy.  Black Forest horses include a dark chestnut coat color with flaxen mane and tail, short head, muscular neck, well laid back shoulder, wide coup, and expansive gaits.


Black Forest Horses are well natured, gentle and intelligent horses that were initially bred for the draft purpose. Nowadays Black forest is a very popular racehorse for betting and riding horses.

11. Race Horse Breeds: Tennessee Walker

Tennessee Walker or Tennessee Walking horse is a breed of gaited horse that is well known for its unique four-beat running walk and flashy movement. The horse originated in the United States and was initially bred for used in farm and plantations. The Tennessee Walker has a finely chiseled head, large eyes, short and erect ears, which is 59 to 66 inches height and 900 to 1200 lbs of body weight. Tennessee walker are found in different coat colors varies from black, browns, bay, and chestnuts are common, but roan, buckskin, pintos, and palominos are found in the rare case.

Tennessee Walker

Tennessee Walker was developed for use in farmland for smooth work but now is equally used in English or Western track or competition racing or show ring or trail. Popularly used in show horses and movies of Television serial Tennessee Walker are favorite as well.

12. Race Horse Breeds: Morgan

Morgan is one of the earliest horse breeds of the United States of America was developed by Justin Morgan who was widely used in the American Civil war by both sides. The standard breed height from 59 to 64 inches and weight ranges from 450 to 500 kg which is most commonly bay, black and chestnut color. Morgan horse is characterized by strong led, expressed head, large and prominent eyes, well defined wither, laid back shoulder and short back.


Morgan breed is used in many events widely like English and Western racing, dressage, western pleasure, show jumping, cutting and endurance riding. Morgan also one of the favorite racehorse breed that you can bet confidently.

13. Race Horse Breeds: Warmblood Horse


Warmblood horses are developed by the crossing of cold-blooded and hot-blooded horse breeds primarily for the draft purposes in Europe especially Germany. Many countries developed Warmblood horses for riding, drawing wagon and carriages. They can move more athletically heavier draft breeds. Warmblood horses are popular in any discipline such as dressage, driving, and eventing.

14. French Trotter Horse

French Trotter is a breed of horse developed by a crossing of Norman Horses with the Thoroughbred or Norfolk Trotters during the 19th century in France. The standard height of French Trotters is 61 to 65 inches and body weight 500 to 650 kg, and they are usually in solid colors like bay, chestnut or brown.


The French trotters are excellent riding and driving trotting and well-balanced and level astride. After the racing carrier, the French Trotters are widely used in Remount training for hunts and equestrian sports.

15. Hanoverians Horse

The Hanoverian horse originated in the Lower-Saxony and is the most significant Warmblood horse breeds in the world. The horse breed first developed in 1735 AD at the state stud cell by the importation of 12 stallions from Holstein.


By the day the breed now used in light agriculture, riding and pulling purpose. At present in Germany, it is also used for racing and some competitions and popular in temperate countries.

The Concluding Remarks

You will find hundreds of horse breed for rearing, riding and companion animals but all are not fit for the racing horses.  In the above discussion, I have tried to bring all racehorse breeds in one article, and you can take a quick decision by this much of information. I have briefly described the general characteristics and purposes of each racehorse breeds for you. You can choose a horse for horse events, dressage training, show jumping and equestrian sports.

I think this much of concise information and data will help you to select a horse betting. If you like the above information and discussion, please share the content through social media. To get more information and regular update, please subscribe to our website.


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